Good Samaritan Thrift Store in Roan Mountain voted Tri-Cities Best

This story is part of Tri-Cities Best, a viewer-driven segment of News Channel 11’s community coverage. Your votes placed Salon SOCA as the Tri-Cities’ Best Salon, among several finalists also chosen by viewers:

• Clothesline (Johnson City)

• Elizabeth Dean Boutique (Gray)

• Wags to Riches Thrift Store (Johnson City)

ROAN MOUNTAIN, Tenn. (WJHL) – The Tri-Cities voted, and the results are in for the best thrift store in the region.

From the four finalists, Good Samaritan Thrift Store in Roan Mountain was chosen as the winner by voters.

News Channel 11 spoke with store administration, who said Friday marked 20 years to the day since Good Samaritan Thrift Store opened in Roan Mountain.

“We’ve been here 20 years, and I know it’s just the Lord working through the people to help us help others and that is sort of how it got started,” said store administrator Kay Hogan.

Hogan said the store has thrived because of the communities, businesses and churches in the area who have worked alongside Good Samaritan.

Good Samaritan Thrift Store also offers a food pantry as part of their ministry.

“We’ve had folks that we’ve helped before that [have come] back like a year later and say ‘You know you helped us last year, and I haven’t forgotten,’ and they’ll give a donation cause now they’re on their feet,” Hogan said.

Store employee Tammy Sluder said the thrift store also serves people in North Carolina.

“They are from Spruce Pine, Boone, down toward Elizabethton,” Sluder said. “You name it, they are just coming in.”

Hogan told News Channel 11 that receiving the title of Tri-Cities Best on the store’s 20-year anniversary is not just happenstance.

“That is more than just a coincidence,” she said. “I just think that’s the Lord. March 1, 2004 we opened the store to the public. Yes, 20 years ago today – it’s amazing.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.